Malaysia Retail Sales Rise 7.2% in May

Retail sales in Malaysia increased 7.2% year-on-year in May 2026, accelerating from April's three-month low of 6.3%. Sales growth accelerated for non-specialised stores (8.2% vs 6.1% in April), food, beverages and tobacco (7.2% vs 5.8%), retail sales via stalls and markets (8.1% vs 6.4%), automotive fuel (12.8% vs 12.5%), cultural and recreational goods (4.1% vs 3.8%), and trade not in stores, stalls or markets (9.8% vs 8.8%). Meanwhile, sales growth moderated for information and communication equipment (3.5% vs 3.7%), other household equipment (3.4% vs 3.5%), and other goods (6.7% vs 6.8%). On a monthly basis, retail sales grew by 1.3%, rebounding from a downwardly revised 1.5% fall in April, which was the sharpest decline since February 2025. Meanwhile, wholesale trade increased 18.4%, following a 24.1% surge in April.

Retail sales in Malaysia rose 6.3% year-on-year in April 2026, the softest growth in three months, following a 7.5% increase in March. Sales growth slowed for non-specialised stores (6.1% vs 8.1% in March), food, beverages and tobacco (5.8% vs 7.9%), and information and communication equipment (3.7% vs 5.9%). Trade also rose at a softer pace for other household equipment (3.5% vs 4.1%), other goods (6.8% vs 8.2%), and retail sales via stalls and markets (6.4% vs 9.3%). In contrast, sales growth picked up for automotive fuel (12.5% vs 10.6%), cultural and recreation goods (3.8% vs 2.7%), and trade not in stores, stalls or markets (8.8% vs 8.5%). On a monthly basis, retail sales declined by 1.8%, reversing 2.8% growth in March and marking the sharpest decline since February 2025. Meanwhile, wholesale trade jumped 24.1%, following a 15.7% increase in the prior period.

Retail sales in Malaysia grew 7.5% year-on-year in March 2026, easing from a 7.7% increase in the previous month, which had marked the fastest growth since January 2025. The slower growth was mainly due to softer increases in retail sales at specialised stores (8.1% vs 10.4% in February), household equipment stores (4.1% vs 4.3%), and recreational goods in specialised stores (2.7% vs 3.0%). Meanwhile, sales growth accelerated for other goods in specialised stores (8.2% vs 7.4%), information and communication equipment in specialised stores (5.9% vs 4.1%), as well as food, beverages, and tobacco in specialised stores (7.9% vs 7.7%). On a monthly basis, retail sales rose by 2.6% in March, rebounding from an upwardly revised 0.3% fall in February, marking the fastest growth since March 2025.